Amir Kabunga Counselling Psychologist/Project Consultant/ Educationist.Amir Kabunga is Ph.D. fellow at Egerton University and his thesis title is “Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Variations in Levels of Compassion Fatigue among Psychotherapists in Northern Uganda”. He obtained MA in Counselling Psychology from Mount Kenya University in 2013, Post Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute (UMI) and BA (Ed) from Makerere University in 2001.

Amir is a lead Trainer and Therapist in Individual and Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with trainings in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology. His research interests are Clinical depression, Burnout, Emotional Intelligence, Compassion Fatigue, Stress, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Human Sexuality, among others.Amir has published many papers in refereed journals and presented paper in Conference proceedings. He is an active Counselling Psychologist, Educationist and Researcher.

1. WORK STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG SOCIAL WORKERS: A CASE OF NORTHERN UGANDA

Citation:Kabunga A. & Muya F. K. (2014). Work stress and coping strategies among social workers: A Case of Northern Uganda. International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science, Vol. 2, (8) pp. 33-38

AbstractSocial workers are exposed to potent stressors due to the nature of their work. The study examined work stress and coping strategies among social workers in Northern Uganda. The target population consisted of 353 social workers in Northern Uganda. Simple random sampling was employed to select 188 respondents. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess the level of stress while researcher developed questionnaires captured both the contributing and mitigating factors. The findings established that majority of the respondents (91%) had high stress levels. Significant factors contributing to stress included finances, work demand, safety concerns, family and violence from the rebels. The most effective mitigating strategies for job stress included spirituality, planning, goal setting, time-management and positive thinking. It was recommended that stress reduction programs and strategies be implemented to mitigate work stress.

Abstract:Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) leaves the care-givers feeling depleted, confused, anxious and depressed. This research aimed at establishing the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress among Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) in Butabika and Mulago referral hospitals in Uganda. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 123 respondents. 61 respondents worked in Butabika hospital while 62 were from Mulago hospital. The study used a retrospective cohort study design. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and corresponding percentages while continuous variables were summarized as frequencies, means and standard deviations. Chi- square tests were used to check association between variables in the two cohorts (P-value =0.05). The study revealed that 27.9 % of the MHPs in Butabika hospital and 32.3% in Mulago hospital had STS. The study showed that some MHPs in both hospitals were fatigued and recommended psychological care services for them.

AbstractThe manifestation of the effects of post traumatic stress disorder in traumatized individuals has been well documented. The management of the consequences of helping these primary victims of trauma is of key importance to counselling practitioners’ psychological, physical and emotional well-being. These ancillary effects, afflicting those not directly traumatized are often defined as secondary trauma or compassion fatigue. This research aimed at establishing the prevalence of compassion fatigue among practicing counsellors in Eldoret Municipality. The specific objectives were to establish the levels of compassion fatigue among practicing counsellors in Eldoret, to determine the relationship between the levels of compassion fatigue and counsellor performance at the workplace and the available strategies for the management of this phenomenon. The study was guided by psychoanalysis theory by Sigmund Freud. It provides insights to the concept that people are often unaware of the factors that determine their emotions and behaviour. The study therefore, explores how these unconscious factors affect current relationships and patterns of thought, emotion and behaviour. The target population consisted of 80 counsellors in Eldoret Municipality and a simple random sampling procedure to select a sample size of 67 counsellors was used for the study. The study adopted a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design. The survey’s validity and reliability was established through pre-test of the questionnaires during the pilot study. Data was collected through use of hybrid questionnaires and analysis of data involved descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies which were used in presentation of data by use of Tables and pie-charts. The findings of the study indicated that most practicing counsellors (52%) in Eldoret municipality had average compassion fatigue. The study found that respondents who had experienced a traumatic event in their lives, 12 (31%) had their duties affected by this traumatic event, while 27 (69%) did not have their job performance affected. It showed that the counsellors with average compassion fatigue have almost 4 times increased risk of having their performance affected compared to those with low compassion fatigue. The study recommended that counsellors and their employers must be adequately trained to recognise compassion fatigue. Counsellors must accept and embrace their vulnerability, as this may help them to adequately address the challenges they face when dealing with traumatized clients and seek support. They should be actively engaged in self-care practices that ensure their overall well-being.